MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after four men forced their way into a West Lakeland Township home.

At 7:58 p.m. Monday, sheriff’s deputies responded the report of a home invasion robbery. When they arrived, the victim said that she had earlier responded to a knock on the door and saw two men wearing reflective utility vests, so she opened the door. The men then rushed in and bound her hands and feet with zip-ties.

During the course of the robbery, the victim noticed two additional men – at least two were wearing bandanas over their face. One suspect wore gloves and another brandished a black handgun.

The suspects took a safe along with jewelry and coins before fleeing, according to the sheriff’s office.

If anyone has information related to this case, they can report it to the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 651-439-9381. You can remain anonymous.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said two people were hurt early Tuesday morning during a home invasion in northern Minnesota, and two suspects are in custody.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported home invasion at about 12:13 a.m. Tuesday on the 200 block of West Second Avenue in Aurora. Authorities said two black men forced their way into a home and assaulted a man and a woman who live at the residence with their young child.

Less than an hour after the incident, a man and a woman suspected in the incident were spotted at Lakeland Trailer Park in Biwabik. Both were taken into custody and are in the St. Louis County Jail on burglary and assault charges.

Authorities identified them as 23-year-old Deandre Rahmal Foster, 23, and Holly Renee Feldman, 36, both of Gilbert, Minn. A second male suspect, identified as 28-year-old Michael Antwain Johnson of Gilbert, could not be located.

Authorities said Johnson was arrested without incident at about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Duluth while waiting for a bus to Minneapolis. He was transported to the St. Louis County Jail and is awaiting charges.

Authorities said the incident is still under investigation.

LONG LAKE, Minn. (WCCO) – Authorities are investigating a violent home invasion and armed robbery in Long Lake Saturday afternoon.

According to Wayzata Police, the robbery was reported at 3:38 p.m. on the 200 block of Glenmoor Lane.

Karen and John Davis were restrained by duct taped in their basement by three men, who entered their home at approximately 2 p.m.

Wayzata Police Officer Robert Vanderheiden says John Davis was taken to North Memorial Medical Center. Karen Davis sustained a punch to her nose, but declined treatment.

“What we found is an injured male home owner in the basement with back and neck injuries from an assault that had occurred,” Vanderheiden said.

Police say a gun was discharged during the robbery, but neither victim was hit. There was also a trail of blood on the walkway near the front of the home.

The suspects were able to get away with the victims’ wallets, cellphones and their car – a red Kia Sorento with the license plate 723 KVL.

Police say the men are armed and dangerous.

John Davis is expected to recover. Investigators don’t believe the couple knew the suspects.

Police did confirm a local drug task force had gone to the Davis home last fall with a search warrant for narcotics, but they say it’s too early to tell if that had any connection with the invasion.

The Hennepin County K9 Unit and the Minnesota State Patrol are among the agencies assisting in the search for the suspects.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 37-year-old man was arrested Thursday after he broke into a northern Minnesota home and demanded guns and ammunition from the homeowner, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities were called to the 6900 block of Morris Thomas Road near Hermantown at about 5:21 p.m. Thursday on a report of a home invasion. The homeowner told police that a man, identified as Scott Eric Obrecht, broke into the home, grabbed him and demanded guns and ammunition from the residence.

Authorities said during the incident, a struggle ensued and the homeowner was hit twice in the head with a firearm causing cuts to the victim. Obrecht then fled the scene with at least one firearm. The homeowner got Obrecht’s license plate number, and authorities recovered the stolen weapon not far from the scene of the incident.

Less than two hours later, the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office was called to a disturbance near Mahtowa where a man, identified as Obrecht, was attacking the homeowner. He was taken into custody and is now in the Carlton County Jail. He’s also facing charges of first-degree burglary and second-degree assault in connection with the St. Louis County incident.

SANDSTONE, Minn. (WCCO) – A Pine County man shot and killed an armed intruder breaking into his house early Thursday morning. A second intruder fled on foot and for much of the morning a manhunt was underway for him

The shooting happened at 2:30 a.m. at a home in rural Sandstone, 90 miles north of the Twin Cities. Authorities believe the homeowner truly feared for his life.

The homeowner who is in his seventies was sleeping on a couch downstairs, a houseguest was asleep upstairs. The homeowner woke to find two intruders ransacking his home.

“The elderly man got up, confronted these two parties. One of them produced a handgun and threatened the elderly man,” Sheriff Robin Cole said.

The Sheriff would not reveal details of what happened next, but said the homeowner was able to get his own gun and then shot and killed one of the men.

The other intruder fled on foot. Around midday, Sheriff’s deputies took three men into custody and questioned them about their possible involvement.

“At this point, we do not feel that anyone else who was involved in this is out and about,” Cole said.

The Sheriff says the case will be presented to the county attorney who will decide if the homeowner was justified in shooting and killing the armed intruder. The Sheriff says at this point, it appears the homeowner was well within his rights.

“He is an old guy. He is a nice guy. He is a guy that I know. It’s a terrible thing to have to do. He feels terrible, but he kind of said he wasn’t going to be killed,” Cole said.

The Sheriff says the gunman who was killed has a long criminal history. In this quiet rural community residents are shaken.

“It’s scary,” Sandstone resident Sue Gustafson said. “I don’t think anyone deserves to die or anything like that, but I do think he was justified in protecting himself and his property.”

The Sheriff is not releasing the name of the homeowner because the investigation is continuing. He is also not releasing the name of the dead intruder because next of kin has not been notified.

No word on whether the three men being questioned will be charged.

SANDSTONE, Minn. (WCCO) – A 16-year-old has been arrested in connection with a fatal home invasion in Pine County that happened Thursday morning.

A Pine County homeowner in his 70s shot and killed an armed intruder breaking into his house in rural Sandstone at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

The homeowner was sleeping on a couch downstairs, while a houseguest slept upstairs. The homeowner woke to find two intruders ransacking his home.

“The elderly man got up, confronted these two parties. One of them produced a handgun and threatened the elderly man,” sheriff Robin Cole said.

Cole would not reveal details of what happened next, but said the homeowner was able to get his own gun and then shot and killed one of the men.

Authorities believe the homeowner truly feared for his life.

According to the county sheriff’s office, they arrested a 16-year-old male they believe was the second person involved in the break-in.

The suspect, who was not identified, will likely be charged with several counts including first-degree burglary.

The Sheriff says the gunman who was killed has a long criminal history. The identity of that person has also not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

SANDSTONE, Minn. (WCCO) – A Pine County teenager is now charged in a home invasion that left a man dead.

It happened after the intruders entered the house of a 75-year-old man around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

Officials said 23-year-old Gypsy Watts had a gun, and the homeowner shot and killed him.

Investigators tell us Watts and a 16-year-old boy broke into the man’s house, hoping to steal his prescription medications.

When a sheriff’s deputy knocked on Dave Lilligren’s door at 4 a.m. Thursday, he feared the worst.

“For about a half hour, they were searching around, near our farm, for somebody, evidently on foot,” Lilligren said.

That’s when he found out that his neighbor, who’s been battling cancer, was the target of would-be robbers, and that one of them was still on the run.

The deputy told him to keep his doors locked.

“We didn’t know if it was safe to go outside even during the day. We didn’t know if the suspect had been apprehended, we didn’t know if the suspect was still in the area, so it was a very nervous day yesterday,” Lilligren said.

Police took three people into custody, but let two go. The 16-year-old Sandstone boy who remained in custody has been charged with 1st-degree burglary.

Authorities say the 16 year old was inside the home during the attempted robbery, but fled on foot after the shooting.

Investigators said they’ll know next week whether the boy will be certified as an adult.

He has a criminal history, as did Watts – who had been charged in the past with robbing several Grand Forks convenience stores.

Chief Deputy Steven Blackwell says homeowners have every right to defend their property.

“People have a right to protect their homes and that’s what all indications show here,” Blackwell said.

The 75-year-old homeowner declined to talk with reporters Friday. Neighbors told us he is a retired teacher who is well-liked in the neighborhood.

“It’s a heck of a thing to deal with, and I’m sure he’s going to have to deal with that himself,” Blackwell said.

The homeowner had recently been going through chemotherapy.

In addition to 1st-degree burglary, the 16 year old does face a number of other charges related to the break in.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – An 18-year-old St. Paul man was sentenced to more than 25 years in prison on Tuesday in Ramsey County Court in connection with the robbery and sexual assault of a 65-year-old woman.

Curtez Deshawn Graham pleaded guilty late last month to charges of burglary, kidnapping and sexual assault in connection with the incident, which happened back in June.

According to court documents, Graham was sent to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing in December of 2011 for robbing the same woman on two occasions. He threatened the woman with a knife before taking money and belongings from her purse.

On June 10, 2013, Graham was furloughed from the facility in Red Wing for 10 days and monitored through an ankle bracelet. That furlough was extended after it was learned he found a job, but Graham then removed the ankle bracelet and stopped showing up to work.

Nine days later, he invaded the home of the woman on the 1100 block of Portland Avenue, tied up a person with the woman inside the home, raped the woman and stole $75 from her. Graham was arrested that night, and while admitting to breaking into the home and taking money and a cell phone, he denied waking the woman up or raping her.

Graham admitted to police he was mad at the woman because she had him sent to jail for the previous offenses. He still denied the sexual assault, saying it wasn’t supposed to happen and that he was just and just wanted to scare her.

RELATED: Man Charged In St. Paul Home Invasion, Sexual Assault

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Two suspects are in custody after a brazen Elk River home invasion that ended with a police chase through the northwest Twin Cities metro.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, Elk River Police were called to a possible home invasion on the 18500 block of Quinty Court.

Police say two men broke into the home, beat the husband with a heavy object and tied up the wife, who managed to free herself and call police.

When authorities arrived to the scene, they found the husband hurt outside the home. He was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A description of the suspect vehicle, a red Cadillac, was sent to area agencies, and Rogers Police spotted a vehicle matching the description heading eastbound on Interstate 94 near Highway 101.

“The officer began following them. I think they realized they were being followed. They made a U-turn on 94 and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes on 94,” Elk River Police Chief Brad Rolfe said.

The chase reached speeds close to 100 miles per hour before police said the vehicle crashed in the area of County Road 81 and Brockton Lane in Rogers.

The two suspects, later identified as Aaron Ray Martin and Ryan Thomas Woehler, were taken into custody and police say they are not cooperating.

The motive for the home invasion is not yet known.

Elk River Police and the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Police say they believe a brazen Elk River home invasion that ended with a police chase through the northwest Twin Cities metro on Thursday was not random.

Shortly after 9 a.m., Elk River Police were called to a possible home invasion on the 18500 block of Quinty Court.

Police say two men broke into the home, beat the husband with a heavy object and tied up the wife, who managed to free herself and call police.

When authorities arrived to the scene, they found the husband hurt outside the home. He was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A description of the suspect vehicle, a red Cadillac, was sent to area agencies, and Rogers Police spotted a vehicle matching the description heading eastbound on Interstate 94 near Highway 101.

A chase ensued that reached speeds close to 100 miles per hour. Police said the vehicle crashed in the area of County Road 81 and Brockton Lane in Rogers.

Two suspects were taken into custody. They were Aaron Ray Martin, 40, of Golden Valley, and Ryan Thomas Woehler, 31, of Brooklyn Center. Police say they were not cooperating.

Investigators haven’t said what they believe may have been the motive for the home invasion, but said it did not appear random.

Both suspects were expected to be arraigned in Sherburne County District Court on Friday.

ELK RIVER, Minn. (WCCO) – Two men sit in the Sherburne County Jail charged with a brutal Elk River home invasion.

But the biggest threat came as 40-year-old Aaron Martin and 31-year-old Ryan Woehler sent police on a high-speed chase, going the wrong way on Interstate 94 near Rogers last Thursday.

Dozens of motorists and law enforcement officers were put at risk as the pursuit continued for nearly two miles. Authorities believed that the men had a kidnapping victim with them.

Four squad cars – two from Rogers Police and two from the Minnesota State Patrol – began the wrong-way chase, going west on the eastbound lanes of I-94.

One of those in pursuit was Rogers Police Chief Jeff Beahen.

“In my entire career, I have never pursued anyone the wrong way down a freeway before,” Beahen said.

He says the State Troopers were instrumental in getting motorists to pull over.

“Where these troopers were, these were the guys that were really the heroes,” Beahen said. “They were blocking and slowing everything down.”

Beahen says the initial report was that an Elk River home invasion victim was in the car.

“Kidnappings are extraordinarily rare. They don’t happen very often and they usually don’t have good outcomes. So our purpose is, if there’s a victim in this car, we have to get these individuals stopped,” he said.

For much of the chase, motorists stay glued in place on the sides of the interstate. But at times, the chase looked like a movie scene, with the suspect and squads weaving the wrong way through traffic.

The car finally exited the wrong way up an entrance ramp to County Road 81 and eventually clipped a truck, causing it to crash.

The suspects climb out, with the driver doing a belly flop in the snow as armed officers move in.

Chief Beahen says the driver scolded police while being handcuffed.

“He learned in prison that police officers were not allowed to chase people the wrong way in the freeway, and he was actually upset with us because we chased him and took him into custody,” Beahen said. “He said ‘You can’t do that.’”

It turns out there never was a kidnap victim. The home-invasion victim had fled and hid at a neighbor’s house.

The two men are still in custody, charged with robbery, burglary and assault. They will likely face fleeing charges soon.

Both the State Patrol and Rogers Police say it’s incredibly fortunate that no one was hurt in the dramatic chase.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) –Two suspects are in custody and authorities are looking for a third after responding to a home invasion call Thursday night in the northeast metro.

Columbia Heights Police got a call about a burglary on the 4100 block of Jefferson Street just after 8 p.m.

Those who broke into the home beat up a man who lived there. Crews brought him to an area hospital, and his roommate, Eli Buck, says he’s going to be OK.

“They came in, apparently beat him up – and I don’t know what they took – but sent him to the hospital,” Buck said.

Officers arrested two suspects, but are still searching for a third.

Multiple law enforcement agencies worked to set up a perimeter around the area. It includes parts of Fridley, Blaine and Minneapolis.

A description of the missing suspect has not yet been given.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Authorities have identified one of the two suspects arrested in a Columbia Heights home invasion.

Austin Dennis, 20, and an unnamed 17-year-old boy, from Columbia Heights, were taken into custody after they were seen fleeing from the residence.

Columbia Heights Police say they received a call regarding a home invasion on the 4100 block of Jefferson Street NE, just after 8 p.m.

The resident reported that “multiple” suspects entered the home, assaulted him and then fled the scene.

Authorities brought him to an area hospital, and his roommate, Eli Buck, said he’s going to be OK.

“They came in, apparently beat him up – and I don’t know what they took – but sent him to the hospital,” Buck said.

On Thursday, officers said they were still searching for a third suspect. A description of the missing suspect has not yet been given.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities say the Anoka County Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the case for possible charges.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call Det. Mike Schantzen of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at (763) 323-5000 or (763) 427-1212 after hours.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Columbia Heights man faces charges after a home invasion robbery and assault last week, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

On June 5, police officers responded to the incident at the 4100 block of Jefferson Street Northeast. Upon arrival, police encountered a man with injuries and took into custody two people – a man and boy – who fled the residence after the robbery.

The adult suspect, identified as 20-year-old Austin Dennis, now faces first-degree aggravated robbery and two counts of first-degree burglary.

The juvenile has not been identified.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – One person is in custody after a man reported being assaulted in his home by an unknown male.

Corey William Becker, 21, of Grand Rapids, is being held at Stearns County Jail in connection with the incident.

According to the St. Cloud Police Department, authorities responded to a report of a burglary in the 1000 block of 36th Avenue North in St. Cloud, Minn.

Upon arrival, police met a male who told them he had fled his home and called from a neighbor’s house.

The male told police he fled his house after an man he didn’’t know entered his home through an unlocked door and assaulted him for several hours.

According to police, when they searched the man’s house they found Becker.

Becker remains in custody at Stearns County Jail.

The man was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries related to the assault.

St. Cloud Police are still investigating the incident.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 31-year-old Brooklyn Center man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in connection to a brutal Elk River home invasion and high-speed police chase in February.

On Friday, Ryan Thomas Woehler received his 96-month sentence after being convicted of first-degree burglary and kidnapping.

On Feb. 13 shortly after 9 a.m., Elk River Police were called to a possible home invasion on the 18500 block of Quinty Court. Police say two men broke into the home, beat the husband with a heavy object and tied up the wife, who managed to free herself and call police.

When authorities arrived to the scene, they found the husband hurt outside the home. He was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A description of the suspect vehicle, a red Cadillac, was sent to area agencies, and Rogers Police spotted a vehicle matching the description heading eastbound on Interstate 94 near Highway 101.

Watch High-Speed Chase Video

“The officer began following them. I think they realized they were being followed. They made a U-turn on 94 and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes on 94,” Elk River Police Chief Brad Rolfe said.

The chase reached speeds close to 100 miles per hour before police said the vehicle crashed in the area of County Road 81 and Brockton Lane in Rogers. Both the State Patrol and Rogers Police say it’s incredibly fortunate that no one was hurt in the dramatic chase.

The two suspects, later identified as Aaron Ray Martin and Woehler, were taken into custody and police say they are not cooperating. Police say the home invasion was not random.

RAY, Minn. (WCCO) — The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office says a 34-year-old Mendota Heights man was shot and killed after he assaulted an elderly woman in her Ray, Minn. home Saturday morning.

According to the preliminary investigation, at 5:19 a.m. deputies responded to a break-in and assault at the home of Neil and Jody Reller at 4202 Highway 53.

The Reller family said a man, later identified as Benjamin Beaudoin, broke into the home through a locked door. Neil Reller grabbed a shotgun and engaged in a struggle with Beaudoin, striking him several times over the head, which broke the stock off the gun. The struggle continued until Beaudoin fled the home in his vehicle.

When deputies were dealing with the initial report, a 911 call came in of an incident at the nearby Himes residence located at 5741 Highway 53. Deputies responded and discovered Beaudoin’s vehicle in the driveway.

The resident, 72-year-old Ethal Himes, reported that she offered to let Beaudoin, who showed up at her home with blood on his face saying he was assaulted, into her home. He then allegedly attacked her and threw her down on the living room floor. He was choking and beating her head on the floor when her son, Bradley Himes, came into the room and saw what was happening.

When Beaudoin didn’t respond to demands to stop the assault, Bradley Himes went to his bedroom and grabbed a handgun. Beaudoin followed him and lunged at him, which was when Bradley Himes shot him, authorities said.

The deputy at the scene administered first aid to Beaudoin. He was taken by ambulance to Rainy Lake Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.

“The Koochiching County Attorney’s Office has been briefed on the July 26 shooting in Ray, Minn.,” said Jeff Naglosky, Koochiching County Attorney. “At this time, reports are not available from the Minnesota BCA crime scene team or the St. Louis County Medical Examiner. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no further comment is appropriate at this time.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Ray is located approximately 19 miles southeast of International Falls, Minn.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Four men have been indicted in a July 2013 Washington County home invasion where a woman feared for her life after being tied up and threatened with a gun, according to court documents.

The Washington County Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee, Wis., said four men have been charged in the West Lakeland Township incident. They were identified as 29-year-old Jarold Cruz, 34-year-old Siphanh Phongsavath, 21-year-old Luis Antonio Ortiz and 25-year-old David Vega.

Authorities said on July 8, 2013, a woman said four men forced their way into her home, bound her hands and feet with zip ties and stole several items from the residence. The woman, Kailing Wong, said one of the four men put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her if she didn’t cooperate.

Evidence recovered from the scene led investigators to one man in Milwaukee, Wis. It led to the identification of all four men, and the investigation revealed that they are linked to similar robberies in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The case remains under investigation.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — A Grand Rapids man has pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after breaking into a stranger’s house in St. Cloud and beating and choking him.

Corey Becker also pleaded guilty Monday to one count of kidnapping in Stearns County. The 21-year-old says he doesn’t remember anything about the June incident because he was drunk.

Prosecutors say Becker broke into the man’s house and choked and threatened to kill him. They say the victim nearly passed out twice and eventually escaped by climbing out of his bathroom window. They say he was bloodied and bruised, with facial fractures.

Becker was arrested at another residence.

Prosecutors say they will ask for an 18-year prison sentence. Becker’s attorney says he will ask for a much lighter sentence.

Sentencing is set for January.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say that a fugitive who was wanted in connection with a number of criminal cases led police on a chase in the Twin Cities Thursday afternoon.

According to Deputy Thomas Volk of the U.S. Marshal Service, Kaley Wethern was wanted in connection with a home invasion in Mille Lacs County. She also had a warrant out for her arrest in Ramsey County and a pending drug case in Hennepin County.

Volk said that officers received information that Wethern was possibly located in Prior Lake. Not long after, a marshal tried to pull her over, and she fled the scene, according to Volk.

Officers said that there was another person in the vehicle with Wethern as she engaged in the high-speed pursuit.

She abandoned her vehicle at 35th Street and 1st Avenue South in Minneapolis, police said, and was apprehended later on along Lyndale Avenue in Richfield. Officers found an empty holster and ammunition in the vehicle.

As of yet, police say they haven’t located the other person they believe was in the vehicle with her.

She was booked at the Ramsey County Jail on Thursday evening.